This is what I'm proposing, Reinforce the Roof ring and keep the stadium as Open Air for a year of two, as this shows. Even if just for two years during the 4 year construction timeline.
So many concerts and sporting events you can have in the sunshine. Imagine watching Lionel Messi with 56,000 under the stars on an August night.
Granted these pics were a long time ago but the current overhang roof Does Not need the opening covered to keep it held up. That is the function of the Technical ring which needs to be reinforced.
It is designed as an Open air stadium with Option of Retractable covering. If the overhang needed the center part covered for structural support, the stadium would never have opened in 1976.
I believe this is what Premier Lego is referring to as the 'stadium's glory days'.
Olympic Stadium was indeed an Open air venue from 1976 thru to 1988 when the Retractable roof was added.
The Expos played in the sunshine for their first 12 seasons in the Stadium. Pink Floyd in 1978 was in Open air as were many other events.
I believe the Stadium can still be used as an Open air venue, if the Will is there to make this happen.
If they just want to close this Stadium for 4 years under the argument that the Stadium is never used so just stretch out the construction schedule, and not give that a chance of an Open air venue from happening, then I guess my idea won't come to fruition.
The kicker will be an announcement of a Major event coming next year, that would get things rolling mighty quickly.
I think fans will really turn on to the idea of being outside.
Problem is, this was so long ago, many people today aren't old enough to recall what it was like out in the elements. They recall the current blue roof and the retractable orange roof but nothing before that.
So for those of you that doubt the Stadium's viablity without a roof ( on a short term basis only ), these pics are your proof.